It appeared he had surprised her, for Miss Elizabeth regarded him with evident curiosity. “Is that how you see me?”
“I cannot imagine anyone seeing you in any other way,” replied Darcy.
Miss Elizabeth looked away, then a moment later she peered back at him. “I am curious, Mr. Darcy. There is something more... approachable about you since your return to Hertfordshire. Is that a consequence of comfort in your surroundings here, or is there something else at work?”
Darcy sipped from a cup of punch while watching her over the brim. “It does, I suppose, stem from increased comfort, though I will note that I do not know most of your neighbors at all well. I know they are, in general, well behaved, and that helps.”
“But you must see their behavior as not at all fashionable,” challenged Miss Elizabeth.
“Fashionable, no,” agreed Darcy. “However, I often find fashionable manners a mask for unconcealed haughtiness, basercharacters, and traits that are not at all estimable. Genuine people are more to be respected, Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy paused, then amended: “So long as their behavior is not objectionable.”
“Do you have any examples of this to share?” asked she.
It was little more than a test, to know what he would say about her neighbors. Darcy decided to confound her.
“At the risk of offending my friend,” said Darcy, “Idohave an example.”
Darcy chuckled. “Then again, my friend would agree that his sister requires a certain measure of correction.”
“You speak of Miss Bingley?” asked Miss Elizabeth, eyes wide.
“I do,” replied Darcy, enjoying her surprise. “Come, Miss Elizabeth, you have stayed in the same house as Miss Bingley, and I know you are discerning. You did not misunderstand Miss Bingley’s character.”
“No, I did not,” said Miss Elizabeth, now appearing a little amused. “I did not expect you to speak with such frankness about a woman who is, after all, your friend’s sister.”
“Bingley would not disagree with my assessment,” said Darcy, shrugging with unconcern. “And Mrs. Hurst is much less like her sister than I had ever expected.”
“That much I noticed myself,” replied Miss Elizabeth, her gaze finding Mrs. Hurst.
“Which is why Miss Bingley’s wishes will never be gratified,” said Darcy, drawing her attention back to him. “I do not wish to enumerate her faults as I perceive them, but I will also not pretend they do not exist. In short, Miss Bingley is the sort of woman I would never offer for, though she will not see it.”
Miss Elizabeth laughed at this. “It seems you have taken her measure, Mr. Darcy.”
“It was not difficult,” replied Darcy. “Even Bingley himself jested that she will not give up her pursuit of me until the ink on the marriage register is dry.”
She offered him an arch look. “Then do you have some woman in mind who will help you escape from her intrigues?”
“I might, Miss Elizabeth,” said Darcy, considering it for the first time. “It would be best to wait and see.
“Now, I have something else to discuss with you, if you will oblige me.”
The amusement ran away from her face, and she watched him, as if understanding what he meant. “Might I suppose you speak of Mr. Wickham?”
“I do,” replied Darcy.
She nodded, though distracted. “When we were speaking, I noticed you watching him. You spoke of his misrepresentation about your father’s wishes when last we spoke—can I suppose that his sins are more extensive than simple lies?”
“Perceptive as always, Miss Elizabeth,” murmured Darcy. “You are correct.”
For a moment, Darcy wondered if she would refuse to listen to him, for her looks were searching, her manner pensive. Then at length she sighed and offered a nod, though he did not think she was eager to hear what he had to say.
“In truth, I now question Mr. Wickham’s character for more than just what you told me, but it would be better if I learned the truth.”
“It most certainly is, Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy related the truth of his connection with Wickham. He spoke of growing up together, playing together as boys, Wickham’s slow drift, his behavior at Eton and then at Cambridge. Darcy then related what he knew of Wickham’s habits, his lack of care when dealing with the ladies, his propensity to accumulate debt, the gaming, the debauchery.Though he had not intended it, he also told her the exact amount of money Wickham received. He said nothing of Ramsgate, for it was not apropos to the situation—everything else was more than sufficient to put her on her guard.
